"Don't summon any more gods into this battle, Constantine. It will only add to the damage already being done to Earth."
Batman strode into the Watchtower's briefing room, Cyborg following close behind.
"Their asses are getting handed to them down there," Constantine snapped, slamming both palms onto the round table. "What do you expect me to do—sit here with my arms folded?"
"Yes," Batman replied coldly. "That's exactly what I expect. Cyborg and I are going down to negotiate."
He stepped onto the teleportation platform without another word. Cyborg joined him.
Constantine fished a cigarette from his trench coat pocket, placed it between his lips, and snapped his fingers. Flame sparked to life at the tip.
"And if negotiation doesn't work?" he called after them. "What then?"
Batman met his gaze. "Then we fight until death takes us. No plans. No backup."
He tapped his belt. The circle flared with light, and they vanished.
On Earth, the battle raged on—though "raged" was generous now. Goku held the upper hand so completely that the fight had become a slow, methodical dismantling.
Goku scratched the back of his head, powering down to his base Super Saiyan form with a sigh. "This is getting annoying. I got way too excited for nothing. I thought pushing you all to your limits would make you stronger. Guess this is it."
From the smoke and rubble, Superman emerged. Blood streaked his face; his shirt had burned away entirely, leaving only tattered pants. He stood unsteadily, fists clenched.
"You haven't won yet, Goku."
Goku glanced sideways. Zeus struggled to rise, lightning flickering weakly around him. Martian Manhunter lay unconscious beneath fallen debris. Kratos, somehow still smirking through broken teeth, hauled himself upright.
Zeno's childlike voice echoed from above. "I never checked properly, but Goku... you've gotten really, really powerful. All those years training in the void paid off."
"Hey, bastard!" Kratos roared, charging again. "I'm not done with you!"
Goku vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of the Ghost of Sparta and drove a fist deep into his gut. The impact cracked the earth like glass. Kratos dropped to his knees, blood pouring from his mouth, eyes rolling back.
A blur—Superman's fist connected with Goku's cheek, hard enough to snap a lesser head clean off. Goku skidded backward, heels carving trenches, then planted his feet and stopped.
"Get up, Kratos," Superman growled. "Let's finish this."
He charged again, faster than sound, the ground quaking beneath him.
Goku didn't move. He simply waited.
The instant Superman reached striking range, Goku's counterpunch shattered Clark's ribs. The Man of Steel rocketed upward like a missile.
Kratos, roaring defiance, launched a desperate kick into Goku's chest. The blow thundered across the battlefield.
Goku didn't budge.
"God-Slayer," Goku said quietly. Blue energy coalesced in his palm. "Survive this."
He pressed the blast point-blank into Kratos's stomach.
The explosion swallowed the sun. Day turned to twilight beneath a canopy of smoke and fire.
Goku shot skyward, catching Superman mid-flight. He clasped both hands together like a hammer and brought them down. The impact drove Clark back to Earth so hard the crater spanned miles—the size of a major city.
When the dust finally settled, only Goku remained standing.
Zeus and Kratos lay motionless, bleeding from countless wounds. Superman teetered on the edge of death, chest barely rising. Martian Manhunter remained buried. Flash and Green Lantern were down for good. Wonder Woman floated in a sphere of Zeno's energy, captive at Goku's earlier request.
Goku lowered himself, sitting cross-legged in mid-air. "Lord Zeno... this got boring at the end."
"But there were so many explosions!" Zeno giggled, orbiting him excitedly.
"Do you have enough energy now?"
"Just a little more, Goku. Just a tiny bit."
Goku surveyed the silent devastation, the gentle breeze stirring ash and fresh blood. "That might be hard right now."
A flash of white light cut through the gloom. Batman and Cyborg materialized.
Goku descended, touching down lightly. "Oh. You two. I knew you got away earlier, but I didn't expect you to still be breathing. Impressive."
Batman stepped forward. "We came to negotiate, Son Goku."
Cyborg's right arm whirred, reshaping into a cannon. "I've got your back, Batman. Anything funny, and I light him up."
Goku smiled faintly, arms folded behind his back. "All right. Let's hear it."
Batman dropped to one knee. "We surrender. We cannot win. Stop the destruction. Let us take our wounded... and our dead."
Goku tilted his head. "You want peace. Yet your friend points a weapon at me."
Cyborg's cannon glowed, charging. "Don't try anything, Goku."
"Cyborg—stand down," Batman ordered.
"He doesn't look like he's ending this peacefully."
"Stand. Down."
Goku's smile vanished. "Take your friends and go. I'll give you one week. Then I destroy everything—this planet included."
He blasted into the sky, leaving only a trail of white smoke and ringing silence behind.